Sports

Monday Morning Quarterback: The Good, The Bad From Super Bowl XLVIII

Matchup

The Good

The Bad

Seattle Seahawks

Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson did not come into the Super Bowl playing his best football – just five TDs in his previous six games -- and it seemed like he would have a difficult time keeping up with Peyton Manning. However, he put his intelligence, poise and strong arm on display as the Seahawks took apart the Broncos. While this was a complete team victory – offense, defense and special teams – Wilson certainly did his part. He completed 18-of-25 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns, and he did not come close to throwing an interception. Wilson was able to buy time with his feet and that allowed him to make plays and avoid sacks. Wilson has earned a Super Bowl title after just two years in the NFL, and his future is bright.

The opening play from scrimmage turned out to be the harbinger in this game when Manny Ramirez’s shotgun snap sailed right by Peyton Manning’s head and the Broncos had to take a safety. Manning and the Broncos never recovered. While Manning is clearly one of the five greatest quarterbacks in the game’s history, he was unable to do anything to keep the Broncos in the game against a superior opponent. Manning completed 34-of-49 passes for 280 yard with a touchdown, but he threw two interceptions. One of those picks was returned for a devastating second-quarter touchdown by linebacker Malcolm Smith, and that’s basically where the game flew out the window for Manning and the Broncos.